Metallic structural element



Feb. 4, 1930. E A. l-i. TASHJIAN 1,746,201

METALLIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed April 25. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l zfgll? fl VCE-T! .E v

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Feb. 4, 1930. A. H. TAsHJlAN METALLIC STRUCTURAL ELEMENT lFiled April 25. y192s 2 sheets-sneu 2 VIIIIII III. .I

Patented YFeb.' Y1.9935() ARMEN lHQ'.TAsrLTiArT, or CLEVELAND, oriro 'Y Merriam-.Io STRUCTURALYELEMENT V Application med' April 23, 1926. seriaim. 104,034.l

A This invention relates to structural' elements such as metal-joists, metal-trusses,

metal units for reinforcing' concrete andthe tloned, Iy used, 1nl the construction of; my

like, andthe object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide simple means for the yassembling of the members comprising such structural, ele# ments preferablyffrom rolled metalbars 1n such'a manner asto. develop therein safe'joint I m'welding or strength values without recourse to riveting,

-the use of any attachinglmeans other'than those formingv a part of the members comprising the elements. Y This invention is in the nature of an improvement onthe invention covered'by my 15 Patent No. 1,013,698,`datedJanuary 2, i912,

V semblmg and the like are composed 'essentially of two l and embodies changes over the invention cov- .ered 'by' said patent whereby'the rolling or manufacture ofthe members` `and theirv'asfor forming` the elementsare considerablyl simplified 'and' theI cost ,of Yproduction thereby measurablly lessened. j 'e j l As is well known, structural elements, such as joists, trusses, concrete reinforcing units typesofmembers, chord'member's and web members,fand the connecting of these mem,- bers at the junctions between them must'produce joints of such rigidity a's'to 'transmite all' stresses from one to the otherwithout slip# page or other V'movement lbetween the memmentgand it is also truethat theeflicienc'y of bers at the joints]v j Y Such connections areY usuallyI made by means of Ariveting or welding thejoints, but

i it is common knowledge that yevery row oriveting and every rivet' in any structural eljement reduces the effective cross#sectional area. of the members joined and forming such ele- Vwelded joints is uncertain, at best.

Qbviously, therefore, there aremgrezat f advantages in structural elements whereinthere is no reduction'o'f the effective area. ofthe members due .tol` riveting orV other common methods ofconnecting the members of such -elements, and where welded joints of uncertain strength need not be relied upon, provided, of course, that the member'sof such a strueturalelementbe so. fabricated and'joined as to produce an element having rigid ljoints ing flanges `smaller kthan the recesses.

Abers .of a joist, truss-for concrete reinforcing ofa strengthv equalat least to the elastic limit strength of its' members.

In-the 'invention ofmy patent above KA*menstructural" elements, two types of specially rolled or fabricated members, namely, chord l membersyor main bars consistingof a body portion having a pair of outwardly eXtendl c forming'between them a trough or groove,

faces of which. are curved soas tov conformto Y the cup-shaped recessesin the flanges of; the .4

chord'y members, .the lugs, however, being This construction, although efficient to pro? ducema very rigid and satisfactoryA joint, necessitated rolling operations forthe fabrication of the two. typeslof. .members'which i were more or less expensive, in thatthe relativev spacing of the recesses in oneftypesofL ,i

member andthe lugs `on-the other type of member had to be `somewhat exact inorderto v'obtain a proper cooperative tbetween .the

two. f Moreover, in assembling structural elements composed of members of thistype kthe j positioning of the recesses in the chord memthereto and to the structural element itself.' e The improvement exemplied by the present invention consistsin astructural element comprising members of two differenttypes,v such as the chord members 'and-web memvbers had to be taken into considerationin l order to provide for proper relative locating f f ofthe web or secondary members with respect 8 unit, one of these members beingprovided with of'f'standing knobs or lugs and the other member being Vprovided with deformable lips or flanges,these flanges forming between` them a channel in which al connecting portion .of the knobbed member may bepositionedV with its knobs in 4,cooperative relation to the flanges, and the flanges being adaptedfto be clinched upon the connecting portion ofthe and the flanges having pressed in'rSO j ythem at regular intervals 'a series of cup-like y recesses; and web members or secondary bars .off substantially the i same width as vthe knobbed member, this clinching acting to 1x00 veo imbed the knobs in the material of the flanges, and causing suoli material to flow into the spaces between knobs, to thereby form a rigid connection between the members, without the employment of any preformed recesses in the flanges; and the invention consists further, in

various features of construction of the members, and in various cooperative propertiesl ber provided with double rowsof knobs.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line v4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a chord member or main bar; the broken lines therein illustrating a number of sizes of such v bars and showing their relative cross Vsectional areas. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate in cross section a joint `between a chord member and the attaching portion of a web member of the single knob type beforeV and after clinching, respectively. Figs. 8 and Q illustrate a joint between a chord member and the` attaching portion of a web member ofthe double knob type before and after clinching, respectively. Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating the formation of a joint between a chord member and a web member before Vand after clinching, respectively. Figs. 12 and 13 are semi-diagrammatic illustrations of two-forms of j oists for the formation of which my members are adapted. Figs. 14 and 15 are semi-diagrammatic illustrations of two forms of truss members which may be formed of my members. Fig. 1G is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of aV con- -crete reinforcing unit which may be formed of my members.

Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are given as instances merely of a number of types of structural elements, and, although I have indicated the knobs on the web members in Fig.

12V only, it will be -understood that the webV members in all of the other forms of' elements shown are likewise knobbed.

The material 1 of which the chord members 'of `the structural elements are to be made is provided with a trough orgroove 2 flanked by flanges 3, and may be provided in a number of sizes of varying cross-sectional area, as indicated in Fig. 5, to meet the requirements of the element to be formed therefrom. This material may be produced in desired lengths and cut and bent, as required, to .form various types of chord members or main bars, some of which types are illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16.

Regardless'of the cross-sectional area of the material 1, I have found by calculation and experiment and in practice that the flanges 3 should have certain characteristics in order to provide a joint or grip strength equal to practical requirements. These characteristics are as follows The flanges should have a width at the base (j Fig. 5) not less than one-half nor more than threequarters the width ofthe head (z' Fig. 5). The heads of the flanges 3 should be provided upon their outer faces with beads 3 which form the additonal area and which, when the flanges are clinched upon the web members, as hereinafter described, provide additional instal to flow in between the knobs of the web members.

Aswill be seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 10, the flanges 3 are perfectly plain upon their inner faces, as distinguished from is flat in cross-section, as shown, and ,eachV of its edges is provided with a plurality of knobs or projections 5, arranged in staggered relation on opposite edges.

The material 6, Figs. 3,14, 8 and 9, similarly used, is heavier and of Greater strength than the material 4 last described, but'is adapted for joining with the chord or vmain bar material 1 by providing it with twoV rows of knobs or projections 7, 7 on its upper and Vlower edges, respectively, either of which may be cooperatively engaged by the flanges 3, and the alternate knobs of which are staggered, as shown in Fig. 3. Y

The material for the web members and th knobs or projections 5, 7, 7 thereon, whether of the type of material designated by the nu- Vmeral 4 or by the numeral 6, should possess,

as I have found 'by calculatiom'experiment and in practice, the following characteristics, in order to provide a joint having the requisite grip strength, namely y The width of the web material 4, 6 from the outer face of a knob on one side to the outer face of a knob on the other side (b Fig. 1) should approach, as nearly as is possible in commercial manufacture, the width (a Fig'. 5) of the trough 2 of the main bar or chord member material 1.

The knobs or projections 5, 7 should have a lengthtc Fig. 1) atthe'ir bases approximately equal to the average width Fig. 5) of the trough 2. The width `of the knobs at their bases (it Fig. 2 g Fig. 4) should not be less than two-thirds nor more than nine-tenths the 'ilo Url

depth (la Fig. of the troughk or groove 2 of the main bar 1.

i .The knobs are made in the shape of flattened oval cones and should have an extreme projection (e Fig. 1) from thel side surfaces of the-web material 4, A6 of not less than onesixth nor more than onefourth the width (a Fig. 5) of thetrough 2 of the main bar l.

i The distance (el Fig. 1) between two successive knobs of a row, andl forming the reV cessv between the knobs 5, 7, 7 should be not wouldV fail in service. i

less than one-halfy the full length (c Fig. 1) of a knob nor more than its full length. v

In the double knobbed material, the rows .of knobs 7 and 7 are separated a distance (fFigAt) which is approximately equal toy the base width (g Fig. 4) of theknobs.

As hereinbefore stated, these essential characteristics just set forthhave been arrived Vat by experiments and; tests to develop the grip strength of the joints between main members and secondary members to a point where such grip strength vequals or exceeds the elastic limit lof the secondary members. This strength is an essential-factor in the strength f of the completed structural element formed of the members, and without" it the element Structural elements formed Vof members having the characteristics described may be so designed that the Awebmembers have" attaching portions 8, Figs; 10 to`16, of a length to include at least two knobs on each side'to be -gripped bythe flanges-of the main bars or chord members and this -will producea joint betweenL the members yof such strength as to equal or exceed theelastic limit of the web members, thus giving the necessary factor'of strength in the elements. Y j

In order to insure proper imbedding of the knobs of the web members'in the lflanges of the chord members and the flowing of thel metal of these flanges into the recessesbeexample,

ltween the knobs, Ifind'it advisable to makev the metal of the web members of a hardness greaterthan that of the chordm'embers. For

substantially structural grade steel and the web members of a slightly harder grade steel.

By'thus using steelsof twogrades of-hardness for the two classes of members the lugs or knobs 5, 7 ,17 being harder than the flanges 1 3, will be certain to imbed themselves in the flanges when assembling pressure is applied and will notbe deformed, and the metal of the flanges will Vflow around'the knobs andn fill the recesses'between them, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 9.

.In assembling structural elements, `such yasy the joists, trusses. and concrete reinforcing units illustrated in'Figs. 12 to 16, composed of the hereinbefore described'members, I po.v

f sition the web members, whether of'material of thetype shown inFig.. 1 or of the type shown -m vmembers an thechord members'may be made of Fig. a, with'their attaching por- YVforming their owny sockets or imbedding themselves lin the fianges 3 and the metal of Vthe flangesflowing aroundand embracing the knobsand 'fillingthe recesses between the knobs. This clinching of the flanges upon the attaching portions of the'web members Vforms a rigid, non-slipping .and inseparable: 'Y

connection between the members, and p roduces a joint strength equal to or exceedlng ythe elasticlimit of the web members.

in the grooves 42fof the chord Web members formed of the material i' shown in Figs. Sand t and having two rows.`

of knobs 7, 7 `upon each of its sides Vmaybe f used where extra strength is required, as they have a greater strength than those formed ofthe mate-rial shown in Figs..1-and 2, but

being designed to cooperate'with chord'members having a standard groove and flanges for both types, may not "only be used in combination with web members formed of the other material but permitthe materialof the standard chord members to have a-relatively greater cross-sectional area Vthan would be possibleV if larger knobs were used on the heavier web material, necessitating-a deeper groove and higherflanges in the material of the chordmembers.

Various changes are contemplatedl as withico in the spirit of the invention. andthe scope of the following claims. g i

What I claim Vis f '1.` In astructuralelement, two cooperating l Vmembers arranged to be connected one to the other, one of said members being substantialk.`

ly rectangular inv cross-section and having two of its opposite faces provided with two rowsf of knobs arranged along and adj acentto the edges ofV said faces, andthe other member provided with deformable fianges, the member having knobs arranged to be positioned A with one row of its knobs on each facein cooperative relation to said fianges, and said ffi15 flanges adaptedto be clinched upon said member, said flanges having plain knob-engaging surfaces and the. clinching operation acting to embed said knobs in said flangesv to form j arigid connection betweensaid members.

2. In a structural element, two cooperating members arranged to be connected one to the other, one of said members being substantiallyrectangular-in Vcross-section and having two of its opposite faces provided withtwo rows of knobs arranged along and adjacent to y the edges of said faces, the knobs of the twor rows being spaced from each other and ar-v ranged instaggered relation upon the' opposite faces,and 'the other member` provided "with deformable flanges, the member having knobs arranged to be positioned With one roW of its knobs on each face in cooperative relation to said flanges, and said flanges adapted to be clinched upon'said member, said flanges having plain knob-engaging surfaces andthe clinching operation acting `to embed said knobs in said flanges to form a rigid connection between said members.

3. In a structural element7 two cooperating members arranged to be connected one to the other, one of said members provided with knobs and the other member provided With a groove and deformable flanges flanking said groove, said flanges being of greater .cross-sectional area at their tops than at their bottoms, the tivo members being connected by clinching the fianges of the one upon the knobs of the other and thereby embedding said knobs inrsaid flanges, and the additional area at the tops of thefianges providing metal to iioiv in between the knobs during the clinching operation.

ll. In kastructural element, two cooperating members arranged to be connected one tothe other, one of said members provided with knobs and the other provided with a groove and deformable flanges lianking said groove, said flanges being of greater Cross-sectional area at their tops than at their bottoms and having' beads upon their outer faces, thetvvo membersV being connected by clinching the flanges of the one upon the knobs of the other and Athereby embedding said knobs in said anges, and the beads at the tops of the flanges providing met-al to flow in betvveenthe knobs during the clinching operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April A. D. 1926.

ARMEN H. TASHJIAN. 

